Apparatus for use in can-making.



G. W. GRAHAM. APPARATUS FOR USE IN CAN MAKING.

APPLICATION IILBD OUT. 7, 1909.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

wilt/names UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. GRAHAM, 0F ROME, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOAMERICAN CAN COMPANY, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN CAN-MAKING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

Original application filed January 25, 1908, Serial No. 412,566. Dividedand this application filed October To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. GRAHAM, residing at Rome, in the countyof Oneida, State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Use in Can-Making, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in making cans, and one ofthe objects thereof is to provide improved means engaging the outside ofa can body for holding the can body with its edges in juxtaposedrelation, for or during the operation of soldering or other treatment.

The subject-matter of the application is a division of my applicationSerial No. 412,566, filed January 25, 1908. Said application sets forthand specifically claims a mandrel upon and around which a can body isshaped or held. The matter divided out from said application andhereinafter described includes an apparatus which is adapted to surroundand engage the outside of a can body to shape or hold it with its edgesin juxtaposed relation and accessible for further treatment.

More specifically I aim to provide an apparatus adapted to engage theoutside of a can body and hold it with its edges in position forsoldering, together with soldering or other can treating devices, andmeans for presenting the can, held as stated, to the action of saiddevice or devices.

Other objects of the invention, more or less broad than those abovestated, will be in part obvious and in part specifically adverted to inthe course of the following description.

The invention consists of the elements, combinations, and arrangementsof parts, all as will be hereinafter fully set fort-h, and the scope ofthe application thereof will be indicated in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which is to be taken as a part of thisspecification, and in which I have shown a merely illustrative form ofembodiment of the invention, the figure is an elevation, partly insection, of apparatus including the invention.

Referring to the numerals on the drawing, 1 indicates a supportingmember, preferably of recurved form, as shown, and having its ends 2 and3 suitably spaced Serial No. 521,616.

apart. Members similar to that shown are arranged in spaced series, andextending longitudinally thereof are upper and lower sets of rails t andThese rails in the present instance are secured as by means of screws 6to laterally extending lugs 7. The rails 4t and 5, are so disposed andtheir inner surfaces suitably shaped to engage with the outside of a canbody 8, and hold it with its edges in juxtaposed relation adjacent thespace between the lower rails 5. The can body 8 is shown provided with alock-and'lap seam, and it is to be understood that the present apparatushas particular utility and advantage in connection with can bodies ofthe lock-and-lap seam type. Nevertheless, no limitation is intended bysuch illustration, and I contemplate the use of the device with canbodies of other types than that shown. Furthermore, in the presentinstance rails 4- and 5 are so located upon the supporting members 1,and of such shape, that when they are in engagement with the outside ofa can body the same will be caused to assume and be held in the form ofan ellipse. In other words, the several distinct spaced surfaces whichengage the can body form part of an imaginary geometrical figure,longitudinally extending, every right section through which is anellipse. For the sake of brevity I will refer to this imaginary figureas a flattened cylinder. It is to be understood that this arrangement isnot absolute, but only approximate, and I contemplate any arrangementwhich will produce substantially the results at which I aim. Vith thisconstruction it is possible to bring the edge portions of the can into acondition of temporarily reduced convexity, against the resiliencythereof, ready for soldering, &c., with resulting advantages explainedin my other application referred to. The present device, however,possesses advantages along similar lines, but superior to those claimedin said application. It will be understood, however, that I do not limitmyself to a device capable of holding a can body of or in any particularshape; for instance, a round can body may be held unchanged in anapparatus properly constructed to that end. WVhatever the embodiment, itis obvious that the can body may be made to asand if relative movementbe now occasionedbetween the can body and some can treating meansadjacent the presented part of the can, such as fluxing means, solderingmeans, wiping means, cleaning means, cooling means, &c., individually orin succession, the can body may be subjected to the action of suchtreating means while it is held within the outside supports. Cantreating means are exemplified in the drawing by the solder-applyingmeans, comprising a solder receptacle 9 and a flexible member 10 movablethrough the solder over rollers to transmit solder to the can seampresented between the ends 2 and 3 of the can holding members.

As a means for bringing about relative movement between the can body andthe can treating means I may provide a chain 11, one course of which mayrun within the supporting member and carry a pin 12 for engagement withthe can body, whereby the same may be moved along within the supportwhile held in proper position by the longitudinally extending rails.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all.matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting way,except as the following claims shall require.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a can receivingmember having longitudinally extending surfaces engaging the outside ofa can body, said surfaces forming part of an imaginary flattenedcylinder, and means for moving the can body along said surfaces.

2. In a device of theclass described, in combination, a can receivingmember hav ing distinct longitudinally extending surfaces engaging theoutside of a can body, said surfaces being spaced and forming part of animaginary flattened cylinder, and means extending between spacedsurfaces for moving the can body along said surfaces.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a can receivingmember having distinct longitudinally extending surfaces engaging theoutside of a can body, said surfaces being spaced and forming part of animaginary flattened cylinder, and means in the space between two of saidsurfaces adapted to apply solder to the can engaged thereby.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a can receivingmember having distinct longitudinally extending surfaces engaging theoutside of a can body, said surfaces being spaced and forming part of animaginary flattened cylinder, means in the space between two of saidsurfaces adapted to apply solder to the can engaged thereby, and meansfor moving the can body along said surfaces.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a can receivingmember having distinct longitudinallyextending surfaces engaging theoutside of a can body, said surfaces being spaced and forming part of animaginary flattened cylinder, the space be tween said surfaces being toone side of the longitudinal plane cutting the flattened cylinder in itsline of greatest width, and a solder applying means operative in saidspace.

In witness whereof, I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES IV. GRAHAM.

Vitnesses B. WV. COULDOCK, ADELE HoMosBERG.

